Fort Stewart MPs return from Afghanistan

Thursday

Oct 10, 2013 at 10:17 PM

Corey Dickstein

It may have been her birthday, but on Thursday afternoon 5-year-old Aria Ocampo was more interested in giving her father a gift.

After scampering across Fort Stewart's Cottrell Field toward a clump of uniformed soldiers, the excited child leapt into Spc. Reymundo Ocampo-Rosales' arms then immediately presented the military policeman the present - a dandelion she'd plucked earlier from the parade grounds.

"This is for you," Aria said to her father with a toothy smile.

Ocampo-Rosales was among 21 soldiers with the 139th Military Police Company of Fort Stewart's 385th Military Police Battalion to return to the Army post after a nine-month deployment to southern Afghanistan.

The MP platoon was stationed at Kandahar Airfield where it was tasked with manning a field detention center, working alongside Fort Stewart's 3rd Infantry Division for much of the tour.

The platoon's leader Army 1st Lt. Reyman Rice said his soldiers accomplished all that was asked of them.

"It went well," he said. "It's not easy work, but we did what we had to do."

Returning home to his wife Lauren, Rice said, was heartwarming after she helped him through the tour.

"It means a lot to be back here with the people who supported us while we were downrange," the lieutenant said. "It's almost a shock to see their faces again. It's kind of amazing."

The words were more difficult to come by for Ocampo-Rosales, as he held onto his birthday girl and his wife Brandi.

"What do you say? It's just really special - family is the reason it's easy to do these things," said soldier who was on his first deployment. "To be home - to be here in time to celebrate her birthday with her - that's priceless; that's incredible."

Aria didn't know her father would be home to celebrate early Thursday morning. Brandi Ocampo waited until they arrived at Cottrell Field to tell her.

"She's normally like this, excited," Ocampo said. "But she was more excited today because of her birthday, and she's really excited now to see her dad."

It was a feeling the entire family shared.

"It just make me proud," Spc. Ocampo-Rosales said. "Makes me proud to wear this uniform, proud to serve this country - just having the opportunity now to spend time with my family and be home and celebrate my daughter's birthday today. It's a good day."